Evan Tanner: “I Haven’t Been Training”

Sep 17, 2007 5:33 PM John Chandler

It seems that former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner won’t be returning to action in the near future after all according to a post today on his official website:

I have not been training at all, despite what the rumors say. I’ve signed no fights. I’m so far gone, living on the road, drinking myself into oblivion, that in moments of weakness, I wonder if I can make it back. It’s going to be a long road. I started drinking heavily, long before fighting was even a thought in my head. There was a definite reason I began. There was a method to my madness with good purpose. I’ll tell that story later.

We originally reported that Tanner had been offered the opportunity to take on Dean Lister at UFC 79 but it seems that he neglected to take up on the offer, for good reason if he hasn’t been training with Chute Boxe USA like we all assumed.

Tanner is once again fighting with the demons inside of him. Yet despite all of the setbacks, he still apparently wants to return to the Octagon:

I’ve been on the road for almost two years. I’m tired. I’m tired of drinking, I’m tired of living out of bags, I’m tired of not feeling home. And where is home? I imagine being in the gym again. I imagine stepping into the Octagon again, and in some strange way, those thoughts bring me comfort. That is my home. I know it’s time to come home.

I never wanted to be a fighter. I never dreamed of it. Those I most respected were men of peace. Despite what the general public thinks, I don’t train full time or year round. I never have. Throughout my career, if you wish to call it that, I have been a heavy drinker. I’ve only trained for a month or two at a time when I sign a fight. Sometimes I’ve put down the alchohol, sometimes I haven’t. I think the fights where I haven’t are obvious.

I keep having this idea of what I could do, what I could be if I put put the vices aside and dedicated myself to the sport. I’ve been obsessed with the idea lately. It’s funny. A friend told me I was doing Wing Chun in my sleep, lying there, working techniques. The next night I was throwing elbows and knees. I take it as a sign.

All that has been on my mind is getting back in the gym. As soon as I can take care of the boat, that is where I will be.

It’s interesting when he says that he has never trained on a regular basis. What could have happened if he became a mainstay at Team Quest and actually focused on MMA full-time? It’s a good question.

I’m the biggest Tanner fan I know. I’ve spoken to him on many occasions. I believe in him. However I’m feeling more and more as the rumors are killed that he might not ever get the chance to make one more run for the UFC Middleweight Title. The man that many believe has the style to defeat Anderson Silva might not ever get that chance at this point.

Anderson Silva • Dean Lister • Evan Tanner • UFC • Middleweight

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Comments:

1. Mikemick
from Clermont, FL
Sep 17, 2007 6:21 PM

I’m a big fan. I hope he gets through this rough patch.

2. Craig O
from sacto, ca
Sep 17, 2007 8:15 PM

sad story, sounds like it’s a life time battle… and we all know alchol and it’s demons. his only chance isn’t the gym unfortunately, cuz he said fighting has never been his dream… to sound corny he needs to join the peace corp and get away for a year and heal… something like that. seeing he said he idolized peacfull people and such…

wish him my best!

3. Fightlinker.com
from Montreal, QC
Sep 18, 2007 1:05 AM

My poor evan tanner :(

4. Sang
from Midwest, USA
Sep 18, 2007 9:47 AM

I disagree that “we all know alcohol and its demons”. I think it’s something society in general ignores, ..and politicians of course do as well.. since alcohol is such a highly taxed substance.

If nothing more, I hope this shows ppl that alcohol is a very dangerous drug to those who have existing psychological conditions or personalities prone to addictive behavior. It is not safe, just because it’s legal. And it’s not “cool” to be an alcoholic.

Anyone can fall victim, especially GOOD PEOPLE. The thing about GOOD PEOPLE is that they’re mostly intraverts who are very mindful of others, like Evan.

This is a perfect example of how someone with torch being handed to them, could merely drown it and themselves in a bottle of rotted plant concentrate. Alcoholism is the #1 legal addiction in America. ..and when ONLY 5% of the BILLIONS made from taxing spirits goes to social programs, .. you end up with alot of lost souls.

Shame on American Drug Policy. Shame on Americas policy on social programs on preventing addiction. And shame on every politician who accepted BOOZE industry money in his campaigning for office.

Evan, goodluck! The road to recovery is a narrow path, and very dangerous. They say less than 1% of people are actually fighters.. and about 3% of Americans have some form of chemical dependacy.

You are a very unique person to be in both camps, to have ever maintained. Get well soon!

5. Craig O
from sacto, ca
Sep 18, 2007 11:46 AM

if you think people don’t know, well i wish i lived under your rock Sang…

so sang you think the all this is the fault of less government policies??? omg,SOUNDS LIKE 1944 GERMANY ALL OVER AGAIN.

you don’t get LOST SOULS FROM LACK OF PROGRAMS, IT’S LACK OF FAMILY AND STRONG UPBRINGING,,,, NOTHING, I MEAN NOTHING TO DO WITH SOCIAL PROGRAMS…... GET A CLUE DUDE.

TRYING TO PUT BLAME ON OTHER PEOPLE IS REAL PROBLEM IS AMERICA, NOTHING IS EVER OUR FAULT… YOUR DEFENDANT #1 SANG, sounds like your a bleeding heart lib that wants more gov involvment!!!

your opinions are those that have brought a downfall to the american family, trying to have the government be family figure… what a joke!!

now sang go post on http://www.bleedingheartlibs.com they will agree with your neo-facist ways.

6. Fred
Sep 18, 2007 12:19 PM

I’ve got to agree with Craig, even though his tone is rough. Tanner made the choices which led him to where he is now. Social programs don’t keep individuals from making bad choices.

#1 Tanner is, most likely, an alcoholic.
#2 Tanner probably has a mental disorder which may have contributed to his excessive drinking.
#3 People who “fantasize” or talk about getting back to their lives, rarely do. Until it’s the primary goal in his life on a permanent basis, he’ll always fall back to the alcohol and procrastination—putting it off for yet another day.
#4 No one should feel sorry for the guy. Pity won’t help him. It’s pointless to talk about what he could have been. Maybe he HAS done everything he was meant to do. Some fighters get busted up knees or shoulders. Some fighters develop bad backs. And some develop busted psyches. That’s what Tanner has, and it may end his career just as surely as a grave physical injury would.

7. w3stcoast
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sep 18, 2007 12:50 PM

What happened to his rehab project where he would bring youth into his house to help them out? Total 180 compared to the show I watched about him not too long ago…I wonder what triggered this relapse, he states he has good reason to going back to the bottle, I’d like to hear it

8. Craig O
from sacto, ca
Sep 18, 2007 6:12 PM

yes i’m sorry about my rough talk, i’m a sagitarius.. we get in trouble for speaking like that alot….

for comming across as a jerk, i am sorry… it was early i hadn’t had my coffee yet